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40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 27, 2003 North Medford�s Ryan Weisz, shown tackling South quarterback Jon Weaver, has been the Tornado�s hard-luck receiver on offense this season. More determined than ever North’s Ryan Weisz has overcome more than his fair share of hard luck in his 4A title quest By DON HUNT Mail Tribune It’s hard to feel too sorry for North Medford’s Ryan Weisz. After all, the junior tight end and outside linebacker has been an integral part of the Black Tornado’s drive to a Southern Oregon Conference championship and march to the semifinal round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Weisz has been good enough to be named first-team all-conference on both sides of the football. But if you take a close look at Weisz the past two seasons, you’ll notice: He was in contention for the starting tailback position last year as a sophomore when senior Reese Lamson moved in from California in late August. Lamson ran for 1,448 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state accolades. Weisz was switched to tight end. Advertisement He had a 67-yard touchdown reception called back in the fourth quarter of last season’s 45-41 loss to South Medford. Most people have forgotten that; most haven’t forgotten the long pass on fourth down that he dropped in the final seconds with the Tornado trailing by four points. He’s had several receptions nullified by penalties this season, including a touchdown catch against Grants Pass and a 35-yard gain against Willamette in the second round of the playoffs. The North Medford coaches recently installed a tight-end reverse play to take advantage of Weisz’s speed, but when the Tornado ran it against Glencoe in the first round of the playoffs and again last week against Bend, the timing was off and fumbles ensued. One can’t help but wonder how many more yards and touchdowns Weisz would have if fate had been more kind to him. "I guess I’ve been kind of a hard-luck player," Weisz says. "Every time I make a big play, I look back to see if that yellow hanky is on the field. Most of the time, it is." Weisz has all but forgotten his dropped pass against South Medford last season, but he admits he’ll never completely put it out of his mind. With North Medford trailing 45-41 and facing a fourth-and-10 play from its own 40-yard line, Tornado quarterback Beau Hovland fired a pass up the right sideline to a wide-open Weisz. The pass was a little high and thrown with above-average velocity, but Weisz says he should have caught it. "It was right THERE," he says, lifting his arms and hands and showing precisely how the ball drifted over his left shoulder. "I was ready to catch that ball, run into the end zone and win the game. "Instead, I dropped it. The worst part was, I felt like I let the seniors down." Actually, the worst part came a few days later when Weisz was at a fast-food restaurant in Medford. He was wearing his lettermen’s jacket, which shows his name and jersey number, when a middle-aged man approached and said: "Hey, kid, nice catch the other night!" "I’m pretty laid-back, but I was ready to go after that guy," Weisz says. "My buddies had to hold me back." Weisz’s tough luck extended to last track and field season. One of the better hurdlers in the SOC, he fell in his qualifying heat of the 110-meter high hurdles and did another face-plant the following day in the finals of the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. But through it all, Weisz has maintained a positive outlook and a sense of humor. And despite having only 13 catches for 204 yards and one touchdown, Weisz knows he could have a breakout game at any time. "I know the coaches still have faith in me," he says. Regardless of how he fares as a receiver, Weisz has been one of the Tornado’s most valuable blockers all season. He often goes in motion and, just as the ball is snapped, leads tailback Rob Folsom into the hole. "He’s taking the place of a fullback on a lot of those plays," North Medford coach John Beck says. "Ryan is an excellent blocker." He’s also an all-conference linebacker, along with teammates Folsom and Brian Jimenez. Weisz will likely step into the starting tailback position next season, a role he played in middle school and ninth grade. If that happens, he might actually cross the goal line a few times without his team being penalized. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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